By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Chase Lamothe (Sr., Corvallis, OR/Corvallis HS) shot a 1-over-par 73 to take first place, and Trent Jones (Fr., Kenmore, WA/Shorecrest HS) carded a 2-over-par 74 for second place, leading Willamette University to a first place finish in the team standings at the rain-shortened Lewis & Clark Invitational at Heron Lakes Golf Club. All golfers played the Great Blue Course.
The tournament began on Saturday, March 12. Most of the field completed the first round on Saturday, but four golfers played the final hole on Sunday, March 13. The second round, originally scheduled for Sunday, was cancelled due to the weather.
Willamette earned the team title with a score of 304. The Bearcats won by 12 strokes. Linfield College took second place at 316, as the Wildcats edged out Lewis & Clark College, which placed third at 317.
Warner Pacific College was fourth at 320 and Corban University finished fifth at 327. George Fox University trailed Corban by a single stroke and took sixth place at 328. University of Puget Sound placed seventh at 338, while Pacific University was eighth at 341 and Whitman College was ninth at 365.
Lamothe and Jones were followed by three golfers tied for third place at 75. The third place tie included Jacob Bell and Drew Groshong from Lewis & Clark, plus Justin Murray of Warner Pacific. Kelekoilo Moore from Pacific and Linfeld's Rodby Mason tied for sixth place at 76.
Peter Mitzel (Jr., Red Bluff, CA/Red Bluff HS) of Willamette shot a 77 to tie for eighth place. Also recording a 77 was Brett Golden from Puget Sound. Steven Rodriguez (Sr., Red Bluff, CA/Mercy HS) of the Bearcats and Kyle Hargrave of Linfield tied for 10th place after both golfers carded a 78.
Also for Willamette, Collin Fuller (Jr./So., Grants Pass, OR/Grants Pass HS) and Clark Wilson (Jr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) were part of a five-way tie for 12th place at 79. Sam Hinton (Fr., Seaside, OR/Seaside HS) of WU shot an 80, while teammate Kenneth Sheldon (Fr., Ocean Park, WA/Ilwaco HS) carded an 82.
The Bearcats will compete again on Monday, March 28 and Tuesday, March 29 at the West Cup, hosted by University of La Verne. The tournament will be played at Sierra La Verne Country Club in La Verne, Calif.
